Micah Blue Smaldone
"Some Sweet Day" CD
North
East Indie Records
Genres: country folk, old-timey
June 6 - 12 2005 |
Some Sweet Day sounds like it was recorded in the twenties; its
simple guitar-and-vocal compositions are attempts at rekindling the Jimmie
Rodgers and Blind Blake sound - heck, there's even a cover
of old-timey classic "In the Jailhouse Now." Smaldone
has the bluesy acoustic guitar going, as well as the familiar
country-folk vocals, and his compositions revel in the genre's best
aspects - skillful plucking, mesmerizing melodies, and that
indescribable sense of wholesomeness that enraptures the listener.
"Springtime Blues" is the song that grabs you first
(partially because it's the first song, but also because it's bloody
amazing) - it has a dreamy, bittersweet feel to it and a strange sort
of timelessness. It may have been recorded just recently, but it
stands up to some of country-folk's better songs. "My
Angel's Wings" is another strongpoint, along with title-track
"Some Sweet Day" (complete with yodeling) and the absolutely
heartwarming "Boats up the River," a John Jackson
cover. The record's instrumental tracks also impress - be it the
playful "Ice Cream Socialist" or the curiously introspective
"Pine Needle Rag." There aren't really any duds on Some
Sweet Day - the only limiting factor is the listener's attention,
which depends on his or her appreciation of old-timey country-folk
music. For those lucky open-minded music fans, though, Micah
Blue Smaldone's Some Sweet Day could become the type of
record that gets you feeling good time and time again.
87%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
14 tracks, distributed by the
label, released 2005] |